Copper Queens skipper Barbra Banda and her striking partner Rachel Kundananji are both in the race for the golden boot at the ongoing TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Banda who was making her debut as Zambia opened the campaign against Morocco just needed 58 seconds to open her WAFCON goal account with a brilliant individual goal.
The Orlando Pride forward followed up with a brace against Senegal to take her tally to 3 goals.
Banda also set up Rachel Kundananji for her goal in the 2-2 draw against hosts Morocco.
Banda who made history earlier this year by scoring Orlando Pride’s first NWSL hat-trick in their history will look to add to her tally on Saturday when Zambia take on DR Congo.
She was last year named in the NWSL Best XI, CAF XI, and FIFPRO World XI and looks set to continue that trend.
Banda was also named CAF Women’s player of the year and came out second at the FIFA The Best Awards, in the World Women’s player of the year category.
Banda also became only the second African player to be voted as the BBC World Women’s Football player of the year.
Meanwhile Kundananji has two goals to her name scoring a goal each in the two games the Copper Queens have played so far.
The former most expensive female football player on the planet had a brilliant game against Senegal and was named as the official player of the match.
Other contenders include Ghizlane Chebbak, Nguenar Ndiaye and Mama Diop.
Named Best Player and Top Scorer with three goals at the previous edition of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Ghizlane Chebbak is once again living up to her billing. With four goals in just two matches, the captain of the Atlas Lionesses currently sits atop the scorers’ chart of this 13th edition.
The Moroccan No. 7 has been remarkably clinical, netting four of her team’s six goals since the start of the tournament.
Alongside Chebbak, Nguenar Ndiaye has emerged as a serious contender, also registering four goals. The Senegalese striker has made her mark with two braces—first against DR Congo, then against Zambia.
Mama Diop and Chinwedu Ihezuo like Rachel Kundananji are also in close pursuit, with two goals each.
